News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
New Season Starts This Weekend!

New Season Starts This Weekend!

Andy Borthwick23 Aug 2017 - 10:08
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.ballymoneyrfc.com/

First 1st XV league game is at home, Saturday 26th August, 2:30pm vs Academy

Please make a big effort to come out and cheer the guys on in Qualifying 2 - starting Saturday 26th v Academy RFC. Kick off 2.30pm
- Chris McIlmoyle, 1st XV Manager

Preseason is coming to a close as The JKC BMW Ballymoney 1st XV play Academy RFC at home this Saturday 26th August.

On the same day the 2nd XV will play in the George Tees Tournament at City of Derry Rugby club where they will look to improve on being beaten finalists in last years competition.

And on Friday 25th a Ballymoney 2nd/3rd XV squad will entertain Armoy 1st XV at home with kick off scheduled for 7pm.

Ballymoney has built on the successful playing squad from last year with a number of new players. The team has continued to be galvanised together with a number of summer events including 5 aside football league, summer strength and conditioning session, trips Ulster v Barbarians, Crannagh Water Complex as well as our usual preseason training which included a successful tour game in Scotland.

There has been a number of friendly games already played including a Grangemouth RFC in Stirling, Enniskillen RFC and Ballyclare RFC. The U20s had another successful run out in the blitz tournament last Wednesday night where a strong 22 man squad took the pitch.

These games have been valuable for the coaches to allow them to view a number of players in different combinations as they close in on selection for the first league game. With over 50 players having taken part in preseason it was important that as many of them as possible got some game time to show what they could do - and also to build match fitness to advance the development of all senior teams.

1st XV Manager Chris McIlmoyle said this week:
“It was great to see so many players come out to preseason, and the standard is very high. We are a club that is not only focused on our 1st XV but on all our 4 senior teams. We have had a number of players join from our own youth system via the Ballymoney Academy U18s as well as school leavers from Cambridge House, Ballymena Academy, Coleraine Grammar and Dalriada. These players will not only strengthen the talent available to senior teams but will also have the opportunity to play together in the new U20 league. "

"We are very pleased to have welcomed Martin Irwin back to the club from Ballymena where he has had a very successful 7 years at their club. Martin has come in and joined the coaching set up with James Cleland, Jonny Hanna and Jason Taggart. Martin has been joined by other established senior players from a number of Qualifying and AIL clubs and it is great to see these guys back playing at Ballymoney”.

The 1st XV team for Saturday will be announced this Thursday night at training and I know they would all love your support so please make a big effort to come out and cheer the guys on as they take on the challenge of Qualifying 2 league with the first home game of the season v Academy RFC. Kick off 2.30pm

Further reading